Reaction to Supreme Court Ruling: US Top Companies Announce Abortion Funds

Following the American Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, major U.S. corporations, like Meta and JPMorgan Chase, said on Friday that they would pay for employees' travel expenses for medically necessary abortions obtained outside of their home states. In recent weeks, a number of businesses, including Starbucks and Amazon, announced enhanced health insurance to cover travel costs incurred by employees seeking an abortion if the procedure is not accessible close to where they live. 

A report suggests that the production giant Warner Bros, DICK's Sports Goods and Microsoft have announced that they will support their employees or the dependents mentioned in accessing critical care. The report quoted spokespersons of the respective companies listing the support they will be extending to those associated.

The report states that DICK's CEO announced that the firm will "provide up to 4,000 dollars in travel expense reimbursement for employees living in states that restrict access to abortion to travel to the nearest location where care is legally available". And added the care will be extended to the employee's spouse or dependents enrolled in their plan along with one support person.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said that they will continually extend support, staying in the purview of law, to employees and their enrolled dependents in accessing critical healthcare which includes services like abortion and gender-affirming care regardless of where they live in the US.

According to a memo obtained by ABC News, JPMorgan Chase, one of the biggest banks in the country, advised U.S. workers that it will pay for travel expenses for anyone seeking an abortion who cannot access the operation legally in their home state.

Abortion Funds: US Companies React To Roe Vs. Wade Overturning 

According to a firm web page that describes the policy, the corporation will start paying for the travel starting next month. CNBC was the first to report on the JPMorgan Chase memo.

Among the numerous businesses that recently increased employee access to abortion coverage to cover travel expenses when necessary are Tesla, Citigroup, Apple and Salesforce.

In the meantime, ridesharing giants Lyft and Uber have committed to back drivers in court if they are accused of taking customers to get abortions.

Since a statewide referendum on the ballot in 1970, abortion has been permitted in Washington. Another referendum passed by voters in 1991 upheld a woman's choice to have an abortion before the foetus reaches viability and increased and protected access to abortion in the state in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Abortion was prohibited in California in 1850, with the exception of situations when the mother's life was in jeopardy. In 1967, the legislation was amended to permit abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman's mental health is in jeopardy.

Suggested Reading: Roe V Wade: Why Men Need To Back Women On Abortion Rights

The state's first abortion statute was found unlawful by the California Supreme Court in 1969, but the 1967 law was upheld. California voters amended the state constitution to include a "right to privacy" in 1972, the year before the Roe v. Wade ruling. Since then, the right to privacy has been interpreted by the state Supreme Court as a right to access abortion.

Feature image credit: The Guardian.